BMS Group (“BMS”), the independent specialist (re)insurance broker, today announced the appointment of Neil Prior as Director in BMS’s Global Risks division, reporting to Ian Gormley, Managing Director at BMS. The appointment is effective on September 16.

Prior will support the Global Risks division by developing market relationships and exploring new distribution channels.

Prior joins BMS with over 33 years’ broking, underwriting and MGA experience in the London insurance market. Most recently, he served as Chief Executive at Priority Underwriting, which he co-founded. Prior has also held senior roles at Sciemus Power, Ace Global Markets (now Chubb), JLT Group and Marsh Global Broking.

Gormley said: “Neil is a recognised leader in both underwriting and broking, with a deep understanding of the needs of clients and markets alike. I am excited that BMS continues to attract talent like Neil and welcome him to BMS.

Prior added: “BMS’s Global Risks division is a fast-growing team within the Group and the industry. Its employee-owned structure and notable track record of consistently bringing new risks to the market has attracted great broking talent. I look forward to joining the team and helping grow the business.”

BMS Group (“BMS”), the independent specialist (re)insurance broker, today announced the appointment of Gregg Holtmeier as chief strategy officer of BMS’s US reinsurance operations, reporting to Steve Korducki, US reinsurance CEO. The appointment is effective immediately. Holtmeier will join the BMS US Management Committee and will be based in San Francisco.

The appointment is the latest in a series of high-profile hires at BMS and follows the announcement of a substantial investment in the business by British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (“BCI”) and Preservation Capital Partners (“PCP”) in June.

With over 20 years’ experience in the reinsurance markets, Holtmeier joins from Guy Carpenter, where he was most recently managing director for North American casualty. He served as head of casualty for North America at JLT Re prior to the acquisition of JLT by Marsh & McLennan Companies. In the course of his distinguished career, he has held a number of senior roles, including SVP at Aon Benfield.

Korducki said: “BMS’s resolute independence and relentlessly client-centric approach has driven its success over the past years. With the long-term investment from BCI and PCP, we are well-placed to continue as the leading independent broker with global reach in the market and to attract the very finest talent.

”Entrepreneurial, experienced individuals like Gregg will contribute to our strategic expansion in North America and I am excited to welcome him to BMS.”

Holtmeier said: “BMS is uniquely positioned to differentiate itself through its culture and robust analytic platforms. I am very pleased to be joining BMS as they are clearly positioned as the independent reinsurance broker of choice.”

BMS Group (“BMS”), the independent specialist (re)insurance broker, today announces the appointment of Pete Chandler as President of BMS’s US reinsurance operations, reporting to Steve Korducki, US reinsurance CEO. The appointment is effective 27th May and Chandler will join the BMS US Board subject to regulatory approval.

This is the latest in a series of recent high-profile hires by BMS, following the achievement of the £100mn annual revenue landmark and substantial global growth.

Chandler joins from JLT Re, where he was Deputy CEO of the US reinsurance broking arm of the Group. He joined JLT Re in 2016 prior to which he was Marsh’s Managing Director for the Western Region. Previously North American COO for Guy Carpenter and an Executive Vice President at Benfield, Chandler has been at the highest levels of US reinsurance broking for two decades.

Nick Cook, CEO of BMS Group, said:

“BMS’s independence and resolute commitment to the US reinsurance market continues to attract some of the industry’s leading talent. There is great opportunity for growth in our US operations as clients increasingly look for independence married to technical and analytical scale and expertise.

Pete is one of the most experienced reinsurance brokers in the market and will be a huge asset to the BMS US team. I am pleased to announce his appointment today and look forward to working with him and Steve Korducki to grow our US reinsurance arm.”

Chandler added:

“There is a huge opportunity in the US for an independent broker of BMS’s ambition, analytical and actuarial capability and entrepreneurial culture. The investment BMS has made in talent, innovation and analytics has made it the most significant independent broker in the market and I’m delighted to join such a formidable team.”

BMS Group (“BMS”), the independent specialist (re)insurance broker, today announces the appointment of Nick Moss as CFO of the Group, reporting to CEO Nick Cook. Moss will formally join the BMS Board following regulatory approval.

The appointment follows the independent broker’s recent achievement of reaching the £100mn annual revenue landmark and substantial expansion in the London, US and international divisions.

Moss has more than thirty years’ experience in finance and joins from JLT Re, where he served as Global and UK FD. He has previously held senior finance roles at Novae, RFIB, where he was CFO from 2013-16, and Benfield (now Aon Benfield) between 2003 and 2009 where he was group head of finance. He began his career in audit and business advisory services at PwC from 1988 to 2002.

Nick Cook said:

“BMS is at an exciting stage in its growth, as the leading independent (re)insurance broker in the market, with revenue and profits increasing, our headcount growing and our operations expanding into new territories.

Nick’s experience will be invaluable as we begin the next phase of our strategic expansion. As an entrepreneurial, independent and employee-owned business, BMS continues to attract the finest talent in the market and I am pleased to welcome him to the leadership team.”

Moss added:

“BMS is a dynamic, independent and entrepreneurial business that has a robust strategic expansion plan, a clear vision and culture that is attracting many of the best brokers in the market. I am very much looking forward to working with Nick and the BMS team.”

BMS Group Limited (“BMS”), the independent specialist insurance and reinsurance broker, today announces the build out of its Bermuda market operation with the hiring of George Bowring from Price Forbes and Kian Wookey from JLT.

The build out in Bermuda will focus on North American liability and property respectively.

Bowring joins BMS from Price Forbes, where he originally started seven years ago in the US Non Marine team. For the past three years, he has worked as a casualty producer and placing broker for the Bermudian market specialising in complex large risks.

Wookey has seventeen years’ experience in the US property and energy markets, working with a large network of US retail brokers. He most recently served as the head of property at JLT Bermuda, having moved to Bermuda from Lloyd and Partners in 2011.

Ian Gormley, director of BMS Group, said:

“BMS has a long history with the Bermuda market; we first opened on the island back in 2002. This latest build out enhances our ability to offer choice and local market knowledge on the island rather than remotely.

George Bowring’s experience and relationships will bring an extra dimension to the BMS Energy platform given Bermuda is a critical market for this sector.

With London market capacity tightening in the property space, Kian’s track record of success in the Bermudian market will be a timely addition to our placement capabilities, benefiting existing clients and creating new opportunity.”

BMS Group Limited (“BMS”), the independent specialist insurance and reinsurance broker, today announces the hire of Duncan Hayward as a Director in its Energy division. Hayward, who joins in 2019, will lead the casualty initiative within the Energy division.

Hayward joins with 14 years’ experience in the insurance market, most recently serving as a Divisional Director at Price Forbes. Prior to that, he served as an associate at JLT, having begun his insurance career as an Oil and Gas Broker at Agnew Higgins Pickering.

Ian Gormley, Director, BMS Group, said:

“Our London Wholesale platform has gone from strength to strength in recent years, with market-beating growth. We place exceptional value in our people and work hard to attract the very best talent in the market. Our client-centric and flexible model of broking, combined with our employee-ownership structure, lies at the heart of our success. We are very pleased that it continues to draw the best and brightest individuals from across the market and I would therefore like to welcome Duncan to our team.”

Davies joins as a director with 25 years of industry experience in the UK and Australia, having most recently served as state manager for New South Wales at Gallagher. He has previously held senior roles at Aon and JLT, having begun his career as a sales executive at Hill House Hammond. At BMS, he will specialise in all aspects of corporate risks, including D&O and PI, as well as advising on placements across key emerging risk areas such as cyber, litigation risk (adverse costs), warranty and indemnity insurance and reputational risk.

Ford joins as a corporate broker with 15 years’ industry experience at Lloyd’s and in the Australian market. She began her career as an office administrator at Lloyd’s underwriting agency Booker International, before moving to Newline Group as syndicate administrator. She then moved to Marsh’s Australian division as an assistant account executive in 2006, before finally serving in a variety of senior roles at Gallagher’s Australian unit since 2008.

Andrew Godden said:

“At BMS we are always looking for the best and the brightest to join our team. We are a different kind of broker, client-centric, flexible and innovative. Our employee-ownership model means that our brokers are engaged and singularly focused on delivering market-beating client outcomes. Stuart and Samantha are fantastic additions to the team and will form part of our continuing strategic build-out in the region. I am therefore very pleased to welcome them to BMS Australia.”

BMS Group Limited (“BMS”), the independent specialist insurance and reinsurance broker, today announces that Simon Kemp has been appointed group chief legal counsel, effective 1st November. Simon will be based in London and reports to Nick Cook, BMS Group CEO. He joins from Clyde & Co, where he is a partner, once he has joined BMS he will continue part-time at Clyde & Co as a Consultant.

Simon has practiced in the London market since 1984. His specialisms include coverage disputes with an international element, regulatory issues for businesses and individuals and employment law. He is also currently the joint editor of Thomson Reuters’ “Law of Insurance Broking”.

BMS Group CEO Nick Cook said:

“As BMS continues on a path of strategic growth and attracts talent in both established and emerging markets, the expertise and experience of individuals such as Simon becomes invaluable. We have ambitious plans, both internationally and in the London market, and, with Simon in place, we are confident in the knowledge that we have one of the leading legal lights in the sector. I would like to warmly welcome Simon to BMS and look forward to working with him.”

Simon Kemp said:

“BMS Group is a dynamic, growing and entrepreneurial business, one of the outstanding brokers in the market. There is huge ambition and appetite for growth, and I am very much looking forward to working with Nick and the team to take these plans forward.”

BMS Group Limited (“BMS”), the independent specialist insurance and reinsurance broker, today announces that Andrew Godden has taken up his role as CEO of Australia. Based in Sydney, he reports directly to Nick Cook, CEO of BMS Group. Dylan Wilkinson has been appointed as COO of BMS Australia reporting to Godden.

Godden has spent 30+ years in the insurance industry and has an established, outstanding reputation in local markets, based on an entrepreneurial track record of building insurance businesses. Most notably, in 2003, he co-founded Specialist Broking Associates. Since its 2010 purchase by Arthur J. Gallagher, Mr Godden was CEO of Australia for the combined business.

Wilkinson was latterly Director of Operations at The Corporate Playground, having previous held similar senior roles with wealth manager AMP.

Godden’s appointment will further enhance the significant reach BMS has already developed in Australia and across the Asia Pacific region. The addition of Dylan Wilkinson demonstrates the commitment BMS has to building a formidable organisation able to offer outstanding client service.

Andrew Godden, CEO of BMS Australia, said:

“Clients in the Australian and Asia Pacific markets have long needed a broker that can provide a full suite of risk products while retaining the distinctiveness of an independent, entrepreneurial business. BMS recognised early on the attractiveness of its commitment to offering its clients an individually focused level of service and tailored products, and has been developing its regional network. We see a fantastic opportunity here for BMS to grow, and I am therefore ready and excited to begin our work with Nick and the team.”

Nick Cook, CEO of BMS Group, said:

“BMS has been building its reputation in Australia and Asia Pacific as an independent, employee-owned broker that provides an outstanding level of tailored services to clients. That an individual of Andrew’s calibre has joined our efforts is testament to BMS’s success. BMS is absolutely committed to developing an impressive client led operation throughout the region and we are demonstrating this with our investment in an operational leader of Dylan’s experience. I am very pleased to welcome both Andrew and Dylan to BMS and look forward to continuing our successful build-out together.”

BMS Group Limited (“BMS”), the independent specialist insurance and reinsurance broker, today announces the formation of a new energy division with the appointment of three senior energy brokers.

Leading industry figures James Chicken and Charlie Bowring become managing director and chairman of the new division respectively, and Sebastian Graham joins as a director.

James Chicken joins from Price Forbes where, as a director, he has spent the last 15 years specialising in power & utilities. He is a proven leader and producer with extensive experience in the global energy market. As leader of Price Forbes’ downstream energy, power and renewables practice he developed and managed a global wholesale account heavily focussed on the US. In recent years Chicken expanded the geographic footprint of the account beyond the US to EMEA and Asia Pacific markets.

Charlie Bowring has been in the insurance markets for over 40 years and has, for the last 20, specialised in the downstream energy and power markets. He began his career as a broker with CT Bowring Reinsurance Brokers, worked in London and New York with Marsh McLennan, was a founder member of Agnew, Higgins & Pickering and has, since 2010, been a director of Price Forbes.

Sebastian Graham gained his master’s degree in mechanical engineering in 2009 and joins from Miller Insurance Services where he specialised in power & utilities, renewable energy, midstream and downstream energy.

The division will report to Ian Gormley, board director of BMS Group and the three appointees will join upon completion of contractual obligations.

Ian Gormley, director of BMS Group said:

“BMS has an established presence in the energy reinsurance market and we have had ambitions to make the logical step towards the direct energy markets for some time, but were determined to do so only with the right people. BMS’s reputation for independence has been a key factor in our ability to attract three of the market’s most respected professionals to our team. I look forward to welcoming them and working together as we build this new division, which will be heavily focussed on US and international growth.”

Nick Cook, chief executive officer of BMS Group added:

“The development of a new energy division led by some of the market’s leading practitioners is a strategic investment for BMS as we continue to achieve significant growth in our core markets in the US and internationally. We fully expect the division to expand in the relatively near term as we invest further to bring additional expertise on board for the benefit of our growing client base.”